Kathy Kerby, School Nurse

H1N1 Flu Home Care Guidance

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

And Southwest District Health

 

ü  Drink clear fluids (such as water, sports drinks, broth, electrolyte beverages for infants) to keep from being dehydrated.

ü  Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then dispose of the tissue in the trash.  Or cough and sneeze into the crook of your elbow.

ü  Dishes can be done in a dishwasher or with hot soapy water.

ü  Throw away tissues and disposable items used by the sick person in the trash.  Wash your hands after touching used tissues and similar waste.

ü  Have everyone in the household wash hands often with soap and water, particularly after coughing and sneezing.  Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.

ü  If you are sick and sharing a common space in your home, wear a facemask to help prevent spreading the virus to others.

ü  Keep sick children under care at home when you go to the store or out in public.

ü  Children younger than 4 years should not be given over-the-counter cold medications without first speaking with a doctor.

ü  Children younger than 19 should not take aspirin or any products containing aspirin due to the risk of Reye’s syndrome.

 

Seek Medical Care if Your Child Has:

 

Fever above 100 deg. F.	Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish or gray skin color	Not urinating or no tears when crying
Not drinking enough fluids	Sudden dizziness
Severe or persistent vomiting	Confusion
Being very sleepy or confused, not waking up or interacting	Being so irritable that nothing makes the child feel better
Pain or pressure in the chest or stomach area	Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and more severe cough

 

Your child will likely be tired.  Fatigue and body aches are normal for influenza.  Make sure your child gets plenty of rest.  Avoid taking your child out into the public on errands.  Keeping your child home is better for him/her and for those in the community.  We look forward to seeing your student back in school once his/her fever has been gone for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medications.  For more information on H1N1, visit www.flu.gov.

 

Sincerely,

Kathy Kerby BSN, RN